# United States Department of Veterans Affairs emblems for headstones and markers

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains many cemeteries specifically devoted to veterans. Most have various rules regarding what must take place in order to be interred there.

## Procedure

The VA only permits graphics on government-furnished headstones or markers that are approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield (including those who served in the U.S. military through the Spanish–American War), the Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of Honor insignia. Arlington National Cemetery has similar restrictions on headstones, though it is maintained by US Department of the Army.
The religious symbols are rendered as simple inscriptions without sculptural relief or coloring other than black. The emblem of belief is an optional feature.
Generally the VA adds a new symbol a few months after receiving a petition from a faith group. However, the Wiccan symbol was only added in 2007 to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of several families by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State in November 2006. A separate parallel lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Wiccan churches and three families by the American Civil Liberties Union in September 2006, which was resolved by the same settlement.
The first interfaith headstone, which includes a Wiccan pentacle for Jan Deanna O'Rourke and a Presbyterian Cross for her husband, was installed at Arlington National Cemetery on May 1, 2007, and dedicated on July 4, 2007.
* Spanish–American War veteran, Cypress Hills National Cemetery
* Unknown veteran of the Confederate States of America, Beechgrove, Tennessee
* Medal of Honor recipient Anton Olsen, Cypress Hills National Cemetery
* Gravesites at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Memorial Day 2006

## Headstone and marker symbols

The following emblems and emblem numbers are publicized as available for government headstones and markers as of January 2025. A process is in place to consider approving additional religious or belief system emblems requested by the families of individuals eligible for these headstones and markers.
Each emblem is given its official USVA name and designation, with added additional links for related symbolism (*) and for related movements (†). Explanatory footnotes are provided where symbols' meanings are not immediately apparent.
* Latin (Christian) Cross † USVA emblem 01
* Buddhist * USVA emblem 02
* Judaism (Star of David) USVA emblem 03
* Presbyterian Cross * USVA emblem 04
* Russian Orthodox Cross * † USVA emblem 05
* Lutheran Cross USVA emblem 06
* Episcopal Cross USVA emblem 07
* Unitarian (Flaming Chalice) USVA emblem 08
* United Methodist * USVA emblem 09
* Aaronic Order Church USVA emblem 10
* Mormon (Angel Moroni) USVA emblem 11
* Native American Church of North America * USVA emblem 12
* Serbian Orthodox USVA emblem 13
* Greek Cross USVA emblem 14
* Baháʼí (9 Pointed Star) USVA emblem 15
* Atheist * ** USVA emblem 16
* Muslim (Crescent and Star) USVA emblem 17
* Hindu * USVA emblem 18
* Konko-Kyo Faith USVA emblem 19
* Community of Christ USVA emblem 20
* Sufism Reoriented USVA emblem 21
* Tenrikyo Church USVA emblem 22
* Seicho-no-Ie USVA emblem 23
* Church of World Messianity USVA emblem 24
* United Church of Religious Science USVA emblem 25
* Christian Reformed Church USVA emblem 26
* United Moravian Church USVA emblem 27
* Eckankar USVA emblem 28
* Christian Church USVA emblem 29
* Christian & Missionary Alliance USVA emblem 30
* United Church of Christ USVA emblem 31
* Humanist Emblem of Spirit * USVA emblem 32
* Presbyterian Church (USA) USVA emblem 33
* Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii USVA emblem 34
* Soka Gakkai International (USA) USVA emblem 35
* Sikh (Khanda) USVA emblem 36
* Wicca (Pentacle) USVA emblem 37
* Lutheran Church Missouri Synod USVA emblem 38
* New Apostolic USVA emblem 39
* Seventh Day Adventist Church USVA emblem 40
* Celtic Cross USVA emblem 41
* Armenian Cross † USVA emblem 42
* Farohar † USVA emblem 43
* Messianic Jewish USVA emblem 44
* Kohen Hands Judaism USVA emblem 45
* Catholic Celtic Cross † USVA emblem 46
* The First Church of Christ, Scientist (Cross and Crown) USVA emblem 47
* Medicine Wheel USVA emblem 48
* Infinity * USVA emblem 49
* Luther Rose † USVA emblem 51
* Landing Eagle USVA emblem 52
* Four Directions USVA emblem 53
* Church of Nazarene USVA emblem 54
* Hammer of Thor * USVA emblem 55
* Unification Church USVA emblem 56
* Sandhill Crane USVA emblem 57
* Church of God USVA emblem 58
* Pomegranate USVA emblem 59
* Messianic * USVA emblem 60
* Shinto * USVA emblem 61
* Sacred Heart USVA emblem 62
* African Ancestral Traditionalist (Nyame Ye Ohene) USVA emblem 63
* Maltese Cross USVA emblem 64
* Druid (Awen) USVA emblem 65
* Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod USVA emblem 66
* Polish National Catholic Church USVA emblem 67
* Guardian Angel USVA emblem 68
* Heart USVA emblem 69
* Shepherd and Flag USVA emblem 70
* African Methodist Episcopal (AME) USVA emblem 71
* Evangelical Lutheran Church USVA emblem 72
* Universalist Cross USVA emblem 73
* Faith and Prayer USVA emblem 74
* Ichthys USVA emblem 75
* Nichiren Shoshu Temple USVA emblem 76
* Dove of Peace USVA emblem 77
* Kingian Faith USVA emblem 78
* Druze (Druzism Five-pointed star) USVA emblem 98